WEDNESDAY, JUNE 29, 1988

18

PROBLEMS OF ENFORCEMENT AROSE WHERE ADVERTISEMENTS AVOIDED THE

USE OF THE PRECISE TERMS APPEARING IN THE SCHEDULE IN REFERRING TO THE TREATMENT AVAILABLE AND USED INSTEAD COLLOQUIAL

LANGUAGE SUCH AS SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF THE DISEASE.

..

TERMS OR VEILED

IN SUCH CASES IT IS DIFFICULT TO PROVE THAT THE MEDICINE OR TREATMENT ADVERTISED HAS CONTRAVENED THE LAW.

"PROBLEMS CAN ALSO ARISE, PARTICULARLY IN THE CASE OF STREET ADVERTISEMENT SIGNS, IN IDENTIFYING AND PROSECUTING THE PERSON PLACING THE ADVERTISEMENT, HE SAID.

"

THE BILL THEREFORE SOUGHT TO REMEDY THESE DEFECTS BY MAKING THE PROHIBITION AGAINST ADVERTISING DEPEND NOT ON WHAT THE ADVERTISEMENT REPRESENTED, BUT ON WHETHER IT WAS LIKELY TO LEAD PERSONS READING THE ADVERTISEMENT ΤΟ USE THE MEDICINE, SURGICAL APPLIANCE OR TREATMENT ADVERTISED FOR THE CURE OF ANY OF THE PRESCRIBED DISEASES.

IT ALSO PROVIDED THAT UNLESS THE CONTRARY WAS PROVED, A PERSON WHO WAS HELD OUT IN AN ADVERTISEMENT AS BEING A MANUFACTURER OR SUPPLIER OF MEDICINE OR SURGICAL APPLIANCES, OR AS BEING ABLE TO PROVIDE TREATMENT, WAS PRESUMED TO HAVE CAUSED THE ADVERTISEMENT TO BE PUBLISHED.

"WHERE AN ADVERTISEMENT INDICATES SOME MEANS OF CONTACTING A PERSON WHO PROVIDES TREATMENT, FOR EXAMPLE, AN ADDRESS OR A TELEPHONE NUMBER, THAT PERSON IS PRESUMED TO HAVE CAUSED TIIE ADVERTISEMENT ΤΟ BE PUBLISHED.

"THE LEGAL PROFESSION HAS BEEN CONSULTED ON THESE ARRANGEMENTS AND THEY SEE NO OBJECTION TO THEM, HE SAID.

"

MR HSU SAID THE BILL ADDED TWO NEW SCHEDULES TO THE ORDINANCE TO REPLACE THE EXISTING ONE. THESE WOULD UPDATE THE LIST OF PRESCRIBED DISEASES AND LIST THEM IN A MORE COMPREHENSIVE AND RATIONAL MANNER.

DEBATE ON THE BILL WAS ADJOURNED.

CONTROL OF PRIVATE BILLIARD CLUBS SUPPORTED

THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND MUNICIPAL SERVICES (AMENDMENT} BILL 1988 IS A SIGNIFICANT STEP FORWARD IN THE PROPER MANAGEMENT OF BILLIARD ESTABLISHMENTS AND IS ALL IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST, THE HON ROSANNA TAM SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OF THE BILL, MRS TAM DESCRIBED "APPROPRIATE AND REASONABLE" THE PROPOSAL TO CLASSIFY PLACES FOUR BILLIARD TABLES OR MORE AS BILLIARD ESTABLISHMENTS.

AS WITH

/SHE SAID

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